Pause-Café

Japan - Theme 3

Cooperation between UN and regional/subregional organizations: SG to include in regular reporting assessments of progress on the cooperation Open between the UN and relevant regional organizations (Japan)

The Sudan country, while being one of great resources and possibilities, has always been subject to large tensions, and has through its short history as an independent nation, has practically always seen conflict on its territory. It's near history is complicated, with many short wars, coups, and ongoing conflict which have caused drastic consequences for the country and it’s population. Today, the Darfur conflict has been going on for 13 years, and concrete decisions must be found, to stop this ongoing conflict, but also to find stability in the country.

While this conflict originated for ethnic reasons, it has now grown to a very dangerous and threatening situation for the future of the region of darfur, and its surroundings. It is also a conflict of interest, marked by the desire of the East Sudan to acquire the natural oil resources of Darfur, Yet the Darfur region is also subject to great dryness, which caused famines, and needs the East Sudan’s agricultural resources for nutrition. Our delegation underlines the fact that this conflict, like many others in those regions, has started due to poor governing methods since the 1956 independence..

Through the 10 years the MINUAD has been in service, it has served its purpose well, as 27000 men were sent on field, the ONU’s largest mission. This mission has of goal to seek peace in West Sudan, so as said, it is not up to the MINUAD men to take sides or advocate a winning side. It is for those reasons that the delegation of Japan believes MINUAD men should try and refrain from fighting in the actual conflict, and the organisation should use the majority of their armed forces in order to protect the vulnerable population. And the Sudani armies, recognises the peaceful purpose of the MINUAD men, should thus let them relieve the populations, whereas they follow the Darfour people or the Sudanese. Our delegation accentuates that point as resistance to the MINUAD was shown by the Soudani army, in 2009.

As a whole, we believe the Darfur conflict should be subject to an important debate, and that concrete solutions, possibly actions should be made to limit the consequences of this war. On the 29th june 2016, we ( the UN), voted to extend the MINUAD by one year and a day. Our delegation believes this organisation, while costly, should pursue, and we are ready to finance it.
We thus believe this mandate should be extended through 3 years, a time where hopefully the conflict will be practically resolved.
Yet, Japan realises that as much as foreign countries attempt to help the drastic situation, it is in the end a regional conflict, and the final decisions will be taken by Soudan. In this way, if the Soudan Armies refuse to co operate, this conflict will last, and repercussions will be very important, not only for the economy and welfare of Sudan and its people, but also for neighboring countries, who will receive an increasing number of refugees. Indeed, the Soudani Government has assured the number of casualties are of 10000, other countries have said it has been 300000 casualties, with 2.7 millions of refugees.

Japan, while strongly believing foreign nations are to interfere in this devastating situation, urges all international interventions, through the UN especially to remain relief interventions, directed primarily to help the population, bring aid, food, water… In this way, funds must be raised by the UN, and both UN organisations, and other NGOs as well should be encouraged to take action. On the other hand, more direct actions and military aid should not be enforced, the funding and soldiers should be sent to help the undernourished, terror stricken populations, while leaving the regional forces to fight the Darfur region. The delegation of Japan believes the conflict is not simply a fight for independence, of for further state rights, but one of ethnic confrontation. It is a decade of minor tensions that are showing themselves in the face of this war, some that foreign countries may have a hard time understanding.

Our delegation is not saying military aid should completely cease, but more funds and effort should be directed for the relief of the population, following United Nations principles, rather than on the actual physical conflict. We hope that, with the help of the UN, MINUAD, and with Darfur official and Sudani official’s cooperation, this conflict will soon be resolved.